Saturday, February 10, 2007

Coal Mine Creek, Winter 2007

For years I drove to Portola Valley, parked right across the trailhead for Coal Mine Creek but paid no attention to it. Took the trail to Windy Hill instead.

Then a friend told me about Coal Mine Creek. Scenic and not strenuous, Coal Mine Creek has trails that are shady and very inviting on hot summer days. During a recent walk on Toyon Trail there was evidence of work to repair storm damage. Trees were down, fallen branches were being cleared. A 2.5-mile hike on Toyon Trail ends at a small lake where a sharp left turn on Lake Trail leads to Spanish Mission Trail for returning to the parking lot at Alpine Road -- about a 4.5-mile loop.